The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-07
THE UNION PACIFIC INQUIRY
The Investigators Strike Memorandum
Among Gen. Fremont's Papers,
Great Deal of Grease Was Used in Pass
ing the Original Union Pacific Bill.

LEAvENwoRTH, Kan. July 6.-The Pacific
railway investigating committee arrived hero
this morning, and held public session in the
board of trade rooms, at which they examined a
number of witnesses Among the parties ex-
amined were Shaw F. Nicely, mayor of Leaven-
worth; Alexander Caldwell, president, and Ell.
Miles Moore, secretary of the board of trade;
Henry SCHNEIDER, correspondent of the Kansas
City Times; Edward Stillings. lawyer; VIM.
Todd, wholesale grocer; Leonard 7. Smith,
and Gen. James c. Stone Several of the
witnesses testified that the peopie of
Leavenworth were placed at dis
advantage for business by the man
in which the Union Pacific
running the Kansas Central and other
branches, the citizens claiming that the business
of the branches made subordinate to that
of the main line. which operated practically as
discrimination against Leavenworth in favor
of Kansas City. This they held to involve
breach of an understanding entered into by the
city of Leavenworth with the builders OF the
Kansas Central, by which, IN consideration of
$3.50, 900 aid given TO that road by Leavenworth
county, that branch was to be run and operated
the main line was.
Gen. James c. Stone testified that he was one
of the promoters and organizers of the Leaven-
worth, Pawnee & Western railroad, which SUBJ
sequently became the Kansas Pacific. It was
through his activity that the original Pacific
railroad bill was passed through Congress. The
difficulty previously had been that each point on
the Missouri river which it had been proposed to
make starting point for transcontinental line
had jealous rivals in all other river points, and
he conceived the idea of having road from each
point such Kansas City, Leavepwortn. Oma-
ha and Sioux City. By such a combination the
rival interest had been adjusted and the bill
went through.
While giving his testimony he was shown a
copy of a memorandum found among Gen. John
~ tt- <hn %ho al
went into bankruptcy, Haett and Fremont
having bought out Stone This memorandum
purported to account for the disposition of about
81. DOC, 600 of the stock of the Leaven-
worth Pawnee 81 Western railroad by Gen. j.
c. Stone and Gen. Thomas Ewing jr., to secure
the passage of the Pacific railroad bill. It gives
the names of parties to whom its stock purported
to have been issued, the original of the memoir
andum containing running comments in the
handwriting of this witness to the several
items. When asked to those comments, he
testified that he wrote them as the expression
not of himself but of Sam Halett others
who were Interested In this memorandum,
shares" was the remark. supposed to be for
Pomeroy." [Pomeroy was the Senator from
ksnsss then oRpos'e the s
was the comment; supposed to be for H. b. Ben
nett. j. P. Usher. Caleb Smith, and r w. Thomp-
son." and the additional comment usher and
Bennett right; let Smith and Thompson slide"
Opposite the Item, "E. w. Chase. Chaseville n.
"" was the comment. "But little service, mostly
Diackmall.' OppOSlL0 the Item, COWau.
3, 900 shares $195 000," was the remark. 'Sup-
posed to be for T. Stevens" and the additional
remark. eff any of this stock, or land. or money
promised this is really for Mr. Thaddeus
Stevens that part ought to be respected" Op-
posite the item. Mrs. Wallace, of New York
Herald, 400 shares, 800 000," was the word
Right" Opposite the item, dewey. New
York 500 shares, $40. 000," vas the word ''black-
mall Opposite the item. "Wilson. New York
Times. 200 shares, So 000" was the word fright"
Opposite the item 'B. F. Camp, New York city,
and others, 500. O00," wes the comment, "Cut
Camp to the red; supposed to be for Carlisle, of
Virginia" Opposite the item, "Jones, 100 shares,
So, 00O," was the comment, supposed to be for
Mrs Friend" Opposite the item, Ross,
Fletcher, Holiday and Stinson. Kansas, 2, 400
shares. 1920, 000." was the comment, '.hold over
them in tarrnr-"
The witness disclamed any personal knowl-
edge to where this stock eventually went He
did not know personally that any of it had been
given for the purposes Of corrupting legislation.
The r.. w. Thompson alluded to was the Dick
Thompson, according TO the testimony of this
witness. who afterward Secretary of the
United States Navy, and the Smith referred to
was at time Secretary of the Interior. The
services rendered by the Mr. Usher alluded to
had been to explain the bill to members of Con-
gress. Being Western man, he had had con-
siderable influence.
On the adjournment of the session the COM
missloners left for Kansas City.